Festival of Voices 2019: Coastal weekend opener luring patrons east

Hit the road for an East Coast road trip next weekend for Festival of Voices Coastal - featuring music, markets, cooking and cruising.

East Coast-based group The Sandy Warhols will perform at the Bicheno Memorial Hall next Saturday as part of the Festival of Voices. Picture: PUDDLEHUB

DON’T despair about the end of Dark Mofo for another year — Tasmania has much more to offer as winter continues.

Next weekend marks the beginning of the 15th year of the Festival of Voices — the original event credited with revitalising Hobart’s winter period.

The festival kicks off with FoV Coastal – presenting the perfect opportunity for a weekend East Coast roadtrip – with a variety of events from Friday evening through to Sunday night.

“FoV Coastal is an incredible way to start your Festival of Voices adventure which is all about celebrating singing,” said festival director Peter Choraziak.

“Whether you sing in a choir or in the car, Festival of Voices welcomes you and invites you to sing. It is a joyful time to be in Tasmania.”

The Stiffys will play at the Festival of Voices. Picture: SUPPLIED

Bustamento at the Bushland Garden. Picture: SUPPLIED

From a Wineglass Bay cruise to a farmer’s market and a lazy Sunday lunch at a premier vineyard, the weekend offers up much more than just music.

This time last year, local five-piece vocal group The Sandy Warhols formed specifically for the festival.

All group members are based around the Bicheno area and were teaching music.

“The crowd actually named us last year right before we went on stage — the MC held a vote with a few suggestions and they picked the Sandy Warhols — we just couldn’t agree on it amongst ourselves,” said group member Nic Wardlaw.

“We’ve decided this year to add a bit of simple instrumentation into our songs — a bit of acoustic guitar, a bit of piano and percussion — to change it up a bit for the night. It will be a bit edgier this year.”

The group will stage only their second-ever performance on Saturday night at the Bicheno Memorial Hall.

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On Sunday night, Melbourne-based The Merindas will headline the weekend’s final event at the recently renovated former Spring Bay Mill at Triabunna in their first Tasmanian performance.

“The audience can definitely expect to see fierce strong women with a story to tell and a whole lot of energy on stage with good vibes,” the duo told the Sunday Tasmanian.

“We feel curious about how the audience will perceive us, but we’re just as excited to share our music with Tasmania and to hear some new music from other acts.”

Following FoV Coastal, the event moves to Hobart for the full Festival of Voices program from July 2-14 featuring local, national and international artists across over 86 ticketed events and 50 free events.

FIND OUT THE TOP SIX EVENTS NOT TO BE MISSED

1. Friday 6pm: Tasmanian Bushland Garden — 5602 Tasman Hwy, Buckland featuring the reggae sounds of Melbourne band Bustamento and Hobart locals Boil Up set in the reserve and display garden featuring the native flora of southeast Tasmania.

Tickets: $35 (free for under 12s)

2. Saturday 10am: Twamley Farm, 431 Twamley Rd, Buckland — an almost 3000ha working farm with accommodation will play host to a farmer’s market featuring local produce and crafts and also a brunch cooking class by Gert and Ted Gourmet Catering, all set to the chilled out tunes of reggae fusion band Te’Mana.

Tickets: cooking class $42 (sold out), farmers market $10 at the door (under 12s free)

3. Saturday 4pm: Wineglass Bay Cruises, Jetty Rd, Coles Bay — sail through Great Oyster Bay with local folk act The Dominic Francis Grief Ensemble.

Tickets: $42, licensed event for 18+

4. Saturday 7.30pm: Bicheno Memorial Hall, 78 Burgess St, Bicheno — party with Melbourne trio The Stiffys, indie pop West Victorian rocket Libby Steel and local five-piece vocal group The Sandy Warhols.

Tickets: $30, 18+ event

5. Sunday 12pm: Devil’s Corner Cellar Door, Sherbourne Rd, Apslawn — grab a lazy lunch with entertainment from ukulele-playing singer Bobby Alu, folk maestro Karl S Williams and Tasmanian singer Saree Salter.

Tickets: $35 (free for under 12s)

6. Sunday 5pm: Spring Bay Mill, 555 Freestone Point Rd, Triabunna — Melbourne-based duo The Merindas bring their indigenous, electro-tribal-pop, supported by locals Greg Wells and The Blackwater Band.

Tickets: $35

All tickets available at https://festivalofvoices.com or at the door.